A big thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I'm always so thankful to have these opportunities!


This review has been a long time coming - I'm not sure why I put off this little book - at 96 pages it didn't take me very long to get through. While it's a short book, there is quite a bit of information, and I think I put it off because I don't use baneful plants in my practice, so I had no practical reason to pick it up - besides for the obligation of the review.

This book gets three triquetras from me. The topic of the book is a bit misleading. I was under the impression that we would be going over the plants that are considered baneful - perhaps with profiles of the plants and potentially how to utilize them. Not for poisoning, but perhaps on an energetic level.

The majority of this book dives into the historical uses, and stories. While these were fascinating I found that at times I was flipping ahead to see when they would be over. We only have 96 pages after all and it seemed as if the author were struggling to fill those pages.

While I understand wanting to proceed with caution for such a deadly (literally) topic, I couldn't help but feel disappointed, even with the one chapter that we're given on the actual plants.

I will say that the chapter on the plants is amazing, and the amount of detail is very useful information. I just wish there were more of it.

I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was browsing NetGalley looking for books that would expand my knowledge base on magick and the craft. The title of this book immediately peaked my interested, and when I read the description, I knew I had to request it. I have only recently started to learn about herbology and plants. I have also recently read Llewelyn’s Herb Magic for Beginners by Ellen Dugan. While Dugan’s book gives a lot of information on a variety of herbs and their magical uses she barely touches on poisonous plants.

By Wolfsbane & Mandrake Root focuses solely on plants that are poisonous. I have to admit there is something intriguing about plants and poisons. I would very much like to visit the poison gardens in Alnwick. The author, Melusine Draco, starts us off with a bit of historical information and intersperses more historical details throughout. There have been some reviewers that didn’t care for this, but I for one, found the historical information fascinating and felt it added to the factual information about the various plants – including what type of poison they contained and what would happen to the person who came into contact with or ingested these plants. Melusine also adds a bit of magickal use information to each plant – not as much as contained in Dugan’s book – but a good beginner’s amount of knowledge.

I enjoyed reading this book and it took little time, weighing in at only 96 pages. I feel that this book is great for someone who is interested in the basics of poison plants. Those that have more advanced knowledge may find it too elementary for their tastes. Reading this book has inspired me to seek out more books on historical poisons, as I found that information intriguing. I would like to visit an actual poison garden and perhaps read Wicked Plants. I am not sure that I will use the Magickal and factual information on these plants at this point in my life other than to stay away from them – as it’s definitely outside of my comfort level.

I loved Wicked Plants! This one was a natural draw! I've always found poison usage interesting from a historical standpoint. It seems so many well known figures in history used poison to get rid of folks who stood in there way! And of course witches were often blamed for using poisons (herb women get blamed for everything!)when some died. Unfair. or maybe not. Doesn't matter, Draco writes a wonderfully informative book on the subject and one I enjoyed reading! I can think of a few people who will appreciate this as a gift!

A very powerful book on not just poisonous plants, but how they can affect our lives, especially when used in magic. Whether used with good intentions or bad, ingested or in magic spells, poisonous plants are powerful and not to be trifled with. This book is an amazing study on the subject with advice on safely and wisely using poisonous plants.

Who isn't drawn to the exotic beauty of poisonous plants? This was an introduction to some of these plants but instead of just focusing on the bad this book focuses on the good as well. Many of these deadly plants can be used for medicine for many things. Draco has written a fascinating book about the these amazing plants which will be enjoyed by many!

A time limited digital copy was provided free of charge for purposes of review.

I do think that the author does have some solid magickal insight, and the book is very informative and well researched.

The first part of this very short book was mostly history. The history included how and why witches were often linked to poison, but the majority of the history included use by ordinary people, including popes, nobility, and common people from classical times on. At times the accounts were a bit sketchy and could have been explained better. This first half, the history of poisons, and the

The first part of this very short book was mostly history. The history included how and why witches were often linked to poison, but the majority of the history included use by ordinary people, including popes, nobility, and common people from classical times on. At times the accounts were a bit sketchy and could have been explained better. This first half, the history of poisons, and the magickal and superstitious belief that concerned them, really could have been a book in itself. Mostly it read fine, but a few small sections didn't really make sense, and could have often used more explanation. The entire book suffered from lack of illustration and pictures.

The second half read a bit like Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, which includes the more popular botanicals featured in the second half of this book. The second half is simply a listing of some poisonous plants, how their poisons work to some extent, and if the plant has any magickal propensities it is listed. A section on mushroom poisons is also included.

Lastly, there's a discussion on cursing vs. 'bottling' or binding, with some brief spells and magickal explanation/theory.

I did learn a bit from the book, or I'd have given it a 3. For instance, I had never heard of a proving tree to protect against poison. I couldn't find them online, but that's because they are more commonly called arbre d’épreuve or languiers. That's the sort of problem I encountered reading this - it just really often needed 'better fleshing out.' It just fell a bit short of its potential, and it could use some editing, especially in the first half. Pictures and illustrations would be a great inclusion. Also, there's not a thing on the magickal raising and care of these plants. When I'd seen mandrake in the title, I really expected more than a couple of paragraphs on these wonderful little plants. We grow them here, and it is a very spiritually fulfilling endeavor to grow them astrologically from seed. They are such incredibly particular little beings. The book could have done them a good bit more justice.

But, for a short book, it is packed with information, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone with an interest in poisons. Even people with no interest in witchcraft at all might find the history in the first section informative.

A very detailed, and well-researched book about poisonous plants. At first, I was apprehensive about reading this book because I thought to promote it would make someone come up with the genius idea to use this information to either hurt themselves or someone else. But this would not have done this book justice. The Author took great care to make sure that he guided the reader through this often unknown subject. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it as a reference book for anyone interested in the subject matter.

Melusine Draco is an author to watch out for. While this is a very short book, theree's definitely substance here. I might have liked more in terms of some of the history (like tell me more about those assasinations, please.)

I feel that her bibliography was one of the stars of this book. You can tell she did her homework. They say a witch who can't hex, can't heal...this book will help there (wink).

And thank you a thousand times for the chapter on cursing. I may not agree with her thoughts on undoing a crossing, but she makes a good case for her position.

This is one of those "need to own" books. Well done!

By Wolfsbane & Mandrake Root takes the reader through the histories and lore of a number of poisonous plants and then offers some thoughts on possible applications in modern magic or witchcraft. Brief monographs feature select botanicals with descriptions of identification, an overview of their poisonous qualities, and how they might be useful in a binding or curse.

Overall I enjoyed the book, particularly the history and the chapter on bottling. I'd recommend this for plant geeks and pagans alike.

WOW! What a great reference... every witch should own a copy

Melusine Draco’s latest book By Wolfsbane & Mandrake Root is a great introduction into the world of baneful plants. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this subject. Coming in at only 96 pages, the book is brief and to the point. She starts the book off by giving a fairly thorough introduction into the historical, mythological and fictional worlds of poisons. This section is full of interesting information; from political assassinations, the Gospel of Aradia, Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, women poisoning their husbands, the flying ointment of witches and much more. As a traditional witch she places emphasis on the connection of poisons with that of witchcraft, sorcery and cunning folk traditions.

The second part of the book discusses historical methods of detecting poison and trying to counteract it. The information about how people would use stones to detect poisons was really interesting. Some gemstones were believed to neutralize poisons and were placed on the goblets of Royalty as a protective measure. Other stones were believed to ward off poisoning just by wearing them or having them on your person. Certain imagery and amulets as well as prayers and incantations were also used to help ward off poisoning. The historical use herbs to combat poisoning is also examined - most being herbs that induce vomiting.

The third section of the book is a very well researched encyclopedia of baneful plants and fungi including every day plants and herbs around us that aren’t normally discussed or thought of as such. The magickal uses of these plants are also briefly mentioned afterwards.

The last chapter of the book discusses using these plants for cursing or bottling. Melusine has one of the most balanced views I’ve seen on cursing. She does not dismiss cursing as ethically wrong while placing emphasis on the seriousness of doing so and the magickal coin that such a working may cost the witch in the long run. She also warns that a curse cannot be undone by the one who’s cast it. Her preferred method is bottling, which seems to be somewhere between a curse and a binding which she believes can be undone by unbottling the spell itself. She then concludes the book by giving a good number of her bottling spells to stop various forms of harassment, incorporating the use of baneful plants.